A qualitative study exploring factors associated with mothers’ decisions to formula-feed their infants in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

BMC Public Health

Janet Murphy-Goodridge⁴  Leigh Anne Newhook⁵  Valerie Ludlow²  Beth Halfyard³  Laurie Twells¹  Kimberly Bonia³ 

[1] School of Pharmacy and Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University Newfoundland, 300 Prince Philip Drive, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3V6, Canada;Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3C7, Canada;Research and Evaluation, Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information, 70 O’Leary Avenue, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 2C7, Canada;Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Perinatal Program, Janeway Children’s Health & Rehabilitation Centre, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3V6, Canada;Janeway Pediatric Research Unit, Discipline of Pediatrics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3C7, Canada

关键词: Infant feeding decisions;    Canada;    Newfoundland and Labrador;    Public Health;    Formula feeding;   

Others  :  1162037
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-13-645

 received in 2012-11-06, accepted in 2013-07-05,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Breastfeeding has numerous health benefits. In 2010, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest breastfeeding initiation rate (64.0%) in Canada. Formula feeding is associated with well-known health risks. Exclusive formula feeding is the “cultural norm” in some regions of the province. Women appear resistant to changing their infant feeding behaviors and remain committed to their decision to formula-feed. The primary aim of this qualitative study was to examine individual factors that shaped mothers’ decisions to formula-feed their infants. Nineteen mothers who were currently formula feeding their children participated in the study.

Methods

Qualitative research in the form of focus groups was conducted in three communities in the province in 2010. A thematic content analysis identified the main themes that influenced mothers’ decisions to formula-feed their infants.

Results

The main themes included issues concerning the support needed to breastfeed, the convenience associated with formula feeding, and the embarrassment surrounding breastfeeding in public.

Conclusions

These findings help to better understand why mothers choose formula feeding over breastfeeding and may help to inform the development of public health interventions targeted at this population of mothers.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Bonia et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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